Speaking & Events

Speaking From Experience, Not Slides

I have spent years speaking at hotel conferences, moderating panels, delivering lectures at universities, and appearing on industry podcasts and webinars. The common thread is that I speak from direct experience of building, advising, and implementing, not from a theoretical or vendor-driven perspective.

My talks are not product pitches disguised as thought leadership. They are honest, opinionated perspectives on where our industry is heading and what it means for the people in the room. I challenge assumptions, question the status quo, and try to leave the audience thinking differently about something they thought they understood.

Topics I Cover

The future of marketing in hospitality and travel. How the role of marketing is evolving as technology, AI, and data reshape what is possible. What hotel marketers need to understand about tech stacks, data flows, and guest intelligence to stay relevant.

The evolving skill set. The gap between what the industry needs and what the industry has in terms of technical capability. How hotels can bridge that gap without hiring a full IT department. The rise of the fractional model and what it means for how hotels access expertise.

AI in hospitality. Not the hype. The practical reality. What AI can actually do for a hotel today, what it will be able to do in two years, and what the industry needs to get right before any of it matters. Data strategy as the prerequisite, not AI strategy.

Hotel technology strategy. Why most hotels have a collection of tools rather than a strategy. How connected systems change everything. The middleware layer. The CTO gap. Why technology decisions should never be made by a single department.

Philosophical and futuristic perspectives. Where does our industry sit in the broader technology landscape? What happens when AI can do the things we thought only humans could? What is the defensible value of a hospitality professional in a world of automation?

Who Books Me

Hotel and travel conferences looking for a keynote speaker who can connect technology to commercial reality. Universities and educational institutions wanting guest lectures on digital marketing, hospitality technology, or AI in travel. Hotel tech vendors who want an independent voice to discuss where their product fits in the wider ecosystem. Podcast and webinar hosts covering hospitality, technology, and the future of work.

Format

I am equally comfortable delivering a 20-minute keynote to 500 people, moderating a panel of industry leaders, running an intimate roundtable discussion, or sitting on a podcast for an hour. The format depends on what the audience needs. I am not precious about it.

For vendor-hosted events, I bring an independent perspective. I discuss where the product category fits in the broader tech stack, what hotels should be thinking about when evaluating solutions, and how to avoid the common pitfalls. This is not endorsement. It is context.

Beyond Speaking

In select cases, speaking engagements lead into deeper relationships. A conference talk might lead to an advisory conversation with an attendee. A university lecture series might evolve into ongoing mentorship for graduates entering the hospitality tech space. I am open to these conversations because the best work often starts with a talk that resonates with the right person in the room.